Kanishka bombing: former accused sues for damages

Ripudaman Singh Malik was acquitted in the 1985 Air-India crash case.

One of the two Sikhs acquitted in the 1985 Air-India jumbo jet crash case is suing the British Columbia and federal governments, seeking unspecified monetary compensation for malicious prosecution.

Ripudaman Singh Malik, once a wealthy textile businessman, claimed in documents filed in the British Columbia Supreme Court on Wednesday that he was wrongfully prosecuted, which resulted in his wrongful imprisonment and breach of his basic rights.

Malik also claimed that the actions of the court damaged his reputation, causing him huge financial loss, the National Post newspaper reported.

"The plaintiff claims damages against the defendants for malicious prosecution, wrongful imprisonment, breach of the plaintiff's Charter rights, conspiracy to injure, negligent performance of duty and damage to the plaintiff's reputation," the one-paragraph allegation stated.

Malik and co-accused Ajaib Singh Bagri were arrested in October 2000, 15 years after Air-India flight 182 crashed off the coast of Ireland, killing all 329 passengers and crew.

Linda Mueller, a spokesperson in the British Columbia Attorney General's ministry, said the government was reviewing the court documents to determine a response.

During the trial period, Malik, who claimed he was out of money after spending millions on his defence, got roughly $6 million funding from the federal government.

"We are interested to see that he has taken this type of action given that he does owe the taxpayers of BC several million dollars that we advanced to him to pay the defence costs for Air India," Mueller said.